Compare towns
Newfields vs Merrimac vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Newfields | Merrimac | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
6,748 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #188 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Pentucket | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.